Michael Colbert
Senator
In office
September 1938 – May 1944
ConstituencyAgricultural Panel
Teachta Dála
In office
December 1955 – March 1957
ConstituencyLimerick West
In office
May 1944 – February 1948
In office
July 1937 – June 1938
ConstituencyLimerick
Personal details
Born(1899-07-09)9 July 1899
Athea, County Limerick, Ireland
Died1 April 1959(1959-04-01) (aged 59)
County Limerick, Ireland
Political partyFianna Fáil
Relatives

Michael Brendan Colbert (9 July 1899[1] – 1 April 1959) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician.[2]

Early life and revolutionary period

He was born in the townland of Templeathea, in Athea, County Limerick, to William Colbert, a farmer, and Nora Danaher.[3] During the Irish War of Independence, Colbert served on the brigade staff of West Limerick Brigade, IRA and took part in ambushes and operations against British forces while attached to IRA 'Flying Column' (Active Service Unit).[4] Taking the anti-Treaty side in the Irish Civil War, Colbert took part in engagements against National forces in County Limerick and County Kerry. He was arrested in October 1922, took part in a 15 day hunger strike in November 1923 and was interned until May 1924. Colbert later applied to the Irish government for a service pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 and was awarded seven years service in 1935 at Grade C for his service with the IRA between 1 April 1920 and 30 September 1923. [5]

Politics

A farmer and horse breeder, he was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick constituency at the 1937 general election.[6] He lost his seat at the 1938 general election, but was subsequently elected to the 3rd Seanad on the Agricultural Panel. He was re-elected to the Seanad in 1943. He regained his Dáil seat at the 1944 general election but lost it again at the 1948 general election. He was re-elected to the Dáil for the Limerick West constituency at the 1955 by-election caused by the death of David Madden of Fine Gael. He lost his seat at the 1957 general election.[6]

He and James Colbert, a Fianna Fáil TD for the Limerick constituency, were first cousins; and James' brother was Con Colbert.[7]

References

  1. ^ He was baptised in Athea parish on 10 July 1899.
  2. ^ "Michael Colbert". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
  3. ^ "General Registrar's Office". IrishGenealogy.ie. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  4. ^ See Colbert's successful application for a military service pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934. Available online at Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection - http://mspcsearch.militaryarchives.ie/search.aspx?formtype=advanced. Reference number MSP34REF2450
  5. ^ Irish Military Archives, Military Service (1916-1923) Pension Collection, Michael Colbert, MSP34REF2450. Available online at http://mspcsearch.militaryarchives.ie/search.aspx?formtype=advanced.
  6. ^ a b "Michael Colbert". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
  7. ^ "Brother of 1916 leader dies: Mr. Michael Colbert". Irish Press. Dublin. 9 October 1956. p. 5.
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